Future People, hailing from Annapolis, Maryland, played Fontana’s in the LES on Thursday and treated a full house to an hour-long set of groove-filled atmospheric electropop. Future People—comprised of guitarist/synthmaster/vocalist Chris Cosgrove, bassist Larry Sheffey, and drummer/percussionist Dan Marcellus—are aptly named, a band that seamlessly blends a number of styles to create music that is at times rap-smart, dreamy, and beat-driven and at other times reminiscent of The Smiths—if The Smiths had an electrical, synth-filled epiphany.
The band took the stage as an ominous, aggressive beat played on a loop, a beat that promised a danceable, hook-laden song to come. Frontman Cosgrove soon joined the loop with effect-modded vocals, building up tension until Sheffey and Marcellus dropped in, unleashing a perfect groove that got the crowd moving. The balance between traditional instruments—guitar, bass, and drums—and synth was perfect, the electronics neither being an afterthought nor dominating the mix, and could serve as a model for how to blend the two. The balance continued on each successive song as the band played tunes that were diverse in style but all clearly labeled with a Future People stamp.
On stage, Future People was (were?) energetic and sharp. Cosgrove frequently adjusts effects and utilizes a laptop to manipulate synths and does so with the expertise of someone who has mastered the medium. Sheffey and Cosgrove will get a nice funk groove going while Marcellus bangs away on the kit, playing powerful beats that would be at home in metal or funk. The band was polished and put on a great show.
When an album comes out, it will be one not to miss—I will certainly review it when it shows up. Here is the set list, a song progression that would work great as an album (hint hint). Let’s hope we get one soon and that Future People return to New York in the near future.
Naturally
Makin Papes
Justice
15
Science of God
Yes majikkk
Socks
Makin Papes
Justice
15
Science of God
Yes majikkk
Socks